(Photo: Marlee Smith/WCSN)
In Saturday night’s win over Washington State, Arizona State Men’s Basketball senior guard Remy Martin reminded everyone what clutch means. As both teams fielded sporadic offenses, Martin screamed “game over” after hitting a dagger three-pointer with less than ten seconds remaining in overtime to seal the Sun Devils’ 77-74 win.
“I think for Senior Day for us, it was fitting the way it ended,” head coach Bobby Hurley said. “Remy is the ultimate winner and the ultimate competitor. He’s done everything that he could do in his four years here.”
ASU, as expected, was elated after the shot. Senior forward Kimani Lawrence picked Martin up and ran across the court with his teammate over his shoulder. At the end of what is perhaps an underwhelming season, ASU showed tenacity and passion on Saturday night.
“Sun Devil nation means everything to me, that’s what I play for,” Martin said.
Martin, with his eighth-straight 20+ point game, wasn’t the only veteran who contributed to the Senior Night win. Lawrence finished the night with 14 points, five rebounds and three assists. Senior guard Alonzo Verge Jr. scored nine points while dishing nine assists (a career high) and grabbing six rebounds.
“In a year where we were struggling and have had a lot of issues and obstacles, they were the guys that have helped us win three in a row here,” Hurley said. “When we were really struggling, it tells you a lot about someone’s character if you’re willing to step up to the plate the way [Lawrence] has.”
Though freshman guard Josh Christopher and freshman forward Marcus Bagley were out, sophomore forward Jalen Graham led the team in rebounds with 12 boards while posting four blocks. Sophomore guard Jaelen House also had a solid performance with his disruptive defensive presence on as well as his execution of multiple fastbreak layups.
“I think Jalen [Graham] playing with fouls and being able to stay on the court that long against their size and their front-court was a really good sign of growth and understanding positioning,” Hurley said. “The plays he made defensively with some of those big rebounds were also a very important part of us getting this victory.”
The Sun Devils entered the game with a vibrant offensive energy. ASU was up 7-0 early, which included a dunk from Graham, a steal from Lawrence and a three-pointer from senior guard Holland Woods.
At times, the Sun Devils played with fluidity and were offensively on point. However, their momentum constantly shifted, and they couldn’t maintain an offensive tempo. ASU experienced several scoring droughts throughout the first frame, which allowed the Cougars to remain close behind.
Washington State was able to take the lead with less than two minutes remaining in the first half. Cougars junior forward Aljaz Kunc tied the game at 29 with a three-pointer, and sophomore forward DJ Rodman hit another which gave Washington State the lead soon after.
Verge Jr. responded for the Sun Devils with a three of his own with 52 seconds left, tying the game at 34.
It’s no secret that ASU has endured several disappointing losses this season. This year’s Sun Devils can be described in a myriad of different ways, but on Saturday they were just one: entertaining.
